In the year 1558 . . .

But
the prisoners were valiant and comforted one another, to be undismayed,
since they were imprisoned for the truth of God; and being thus of good
cheer, they began to sing for joy.

In the year 1558, Brother Hans Smit, a minister of the Word
of God, was sent forth by the church to seek and gather those
that were eager for the truth. Acts 13:3. When he therefore,
being divinely called, undertook to travel through the Netherlands,
he, together with five brethren and six sisters, was apprehended
in the city of Aix-la-Chapelle, on the ninth of January. While
they were assembled there in a house, to speak of the Word
of God, and were engaged in prayer, many servants and children
of Pilate came there in the night through treachery, with spears,
halberds, and bare swords, and well provided with ropes and
bonds, and surrounded the house, and bound and apprehended
these children of God. They
even took with them a mother with her infant that lay in the
cradle. But the prisoners were valiant and comforted one another,
to be undismayed, since they were imprisoned for the truth
of God; and being thus of good cheer, they began to sing for
joy. They were very soon separately confined, in which the
sisters rejoiced, and sang, so that the people were astonished.
In the morning they were brought before the judge, who talked
with each separately, and then remanded them to prison, when
he perceived their steadfastness. However, the next day the
minister was again summoned before the lords, that he should
tell them, how many he had baptized, who they were and where
the church held their meetings. But he told them, that they
should know that he would rather lose his life (John 15: 13)
than by telling this become a traitor, whereupon he was tortured
and racked for about a quarter of an hour, to which he willingly
submitted, himself taking off his clothes, and going to the
rack. When they could accomplish nothing by it, they went away,
but soon returned, and said, “You must tell us what we have
asked you, or we shall torture you so as to rack your limbs
asunder."

Thereupon
they bound him hand and foot, and tied to his feet a large
stone weighing little less than a hundred pounds . . .
and hung the stone to his foot, and left him suspended thus for some
time; however, they could not accomplish their purpose.

Thereupon they bound him hand and foot, and tied to his feet a large
stone weighing little less than a hundred pounds, and thus
drew him up, so that the ring on the stone broke, and the stone
remained on the ground. But they took a rope, fastened it to
the stone, in place of the broken ring, and hung the stone
to his foot, and left him suspended thus for some time; however,
they could not accomplish their purpose. Hence they let him
down, and put him in prison until Sunday morning, when the
lords came from the city with seven priests, who asked him
concerning his calling; whereupon he said that he had not put
himself into the ministry, but God and His Spirit in His church;
for as God sent His Son, and the Son the apostles into all
the world, so He still sends His ministers through His Spirit,
that they should first preach the Word of God, and then baptize
such as hear, understand and believe it, but not young infants.
They also asked him concerning the magistracy, whether he regarded
it as Christian or not. He replied that in the first place
he regarded them as ministers of God, but that they were deceived
and wrongly taught by the priests, and not incorporated into
the Christian church. They also inquired of him the origin
of the magistracy. He replied that office and power are of
God. They then asked him, whether they were Christians. He
answered that if they denied and forsook themselves, took up
the cross, abandoned their tyranny and pomp, and followed Christ,
they could be Christians, not otherwise. They also interrogated
him with regard to swearing. He said that Christ had forbidden
it. And much more, which it would take too long to write.

After this they put him back into prison, where they left
him until Monday evening, when the judge came again, with several
others, and also a monk, to dispute with him. But they did
not accomplish much, for he put the monk to utter confusion,
so that the latter was glad to get away. Many other monks and
priests were sent yet, to dispute with him; but they were all
put to shame and derision, and were not able to cause this
pious man to apostatize. Shortly after they were brought forth
again and examined; but God continually gave them bold utterance,
and wisdom, so that they could find no fault, or cause of death
in him, save only that they did not sufficiently esteem the
Emperor.

Several of the lords said that if these should be put to
death, they should leave home. Once the brethren and sisters
were all twelve left together from four o’clock in the morning
until ten in the evening. They were joyful and of good cheer,
and conversed with one another from the Word of God, and began
to pray and praise God.

Brother Hans, as the minister, led them in prayer, as loud
as he could, so that the people ran together and listened.
But when the lords heard of this, they sent the bailiff thither,
who asked them why they had made such a loud noise. They replied
that they had been praying; however, they had concluded just
before he came. Brother Matthias said, “We will call upon God
whether anybody opposes or not.” In the evening about ten o’clock
they were separated again, and led away. On their way through
the city, they joyfully sang, and made known their faith.

When the minister heard that he was to die, he commenced
to sing joyfully and thanked God for it, and earnestly besought
Him to count him acceptable.

The 23rd of August was the day fixed for the execution of
the minister, Hans, and brother Henderick. They were brought
before the court into the vault near the pillory. Much people
flocked together, also some who were their friends, and had
sent them food and drink. They went smilingly through the people
to the place of execution, and seeing the great concourse of
people coming from every direction, the minister said, “O what
a beautiful feast day we shall have, since so much people are
coming.” They were very joyful, and hoped to get into paradise.

(To their disappointment the execution was delayed and they
were put back in prison and suffered until autumn when they
were finally led out to their execution.)

When being led through
the city, he sang joyfully; he did not speak much afterwards,
but went briskly to the place of execution, as a patient, dumb
lamb.

Hans Smit, as the minister, was first executed. When being led through
the city, he sang joyfully; he did not speak much afterwards,
but went briskly to the place of execution, as a patient, dumb
lamb. There he was strangled at the stake with a rope, and
then bound fast with a chain, and singed with fire. Thus he
offered his sacrifice, on the 19th of October, A. D. 1558.
Three days after, the others were brought forth, and sentenced
to death, namely, Henderick Adams and his brother-in-law, Hans
Beck.

There was one among the councilors at Aix-la-Chapelle, who was always
violently opposed to the brethren, and hence it happened on
one occasion, when they were disputing with Henderick, and
the latter would not be moved, that this councilor became angry,
and said, “Away with them, away with them, to death and the
fire; for all is lost on them; no pardon should be offered
them any more,” etc. But Brother Henderick said to him, “You
will not live to see my death;” which was verified, for he
died three days before Henderick, on the same day that the
minister Hans Smit was executed. When on his deathbed, and
near his end, he fell into great despair, plucked out his beard,
and cried out most dreadfully, declaring that he had judged
many persons, and had certainly sinned therein, and that God
would punish him for his bloodthirstiness.

.
. . the executioner bound his hands . . . but he lifted
up his hands to God, praising Him . . . they were
tied again, just as hard as before; but it was of no avail;
for when he lifted up his hands again, the bonds fell off as
before . . .

Now when Brother Henderick Adams and the other brother were
led to death, the executioner bound his hands so tightly that
his fingers turned black; but he lifted up his hands to God,
praising Him, that he was counted worthy to suffer this. In
the meantime the bonds on his hands became loose. They were
tied again, just as hard as before; but it was of no avail;
for when he lifted up his hands again, the bonds fell off as
before, which occurred several times, so that the judge became
angry, and said to the executioner, that he should bind them
fast; but the executioner replied, “You can easily see that
binding is of no use here.” The last time Henderick flung the
bond away among the people, so that he was not bound any more,
and said, “It is not God’s will, that I should be bound.” He
also said that such violence was contrary to God, and continued
to speak boldly unto the end.

Thereupon these two brethren, Henderick Adams and his brother-in-law
were (like previously the minister) strangled at the stake,
with a rope, and then bound to the stake with a chain, and
singed with fire; which took place on the 22nd day of the month
of October, A. D. 1558. A great number of people were present
on this occasion.

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